Cotter Corp. refuses to pay state fine for uranium contamination

A uranium mining and milling company for years blamed for contamination in the Cañon City area is now refusing to pay state fines levied for failing to clean up a toxic pond threatening Denver’s water supply. According to letters obtained by the Colorado Independent, Cotter Corp. – which owns the Cotter Mill near Cañon City – has declined to pay a $55,000 fine for uranium pollution 1,200 times state standards.

Cash-strapped Energy Fuels can pay for uranium mill but not for clean up

A Canadian company looking to build the first new uranium mill in the United States in nearly three decades is burning through cash at a rate that could leave it broke right about the time it hopes to secure its final approvals from Colorado public health officials.

State orders Cotter to clean up uranium mine fouling JeffCo drinking water

Environmentalists and local politicians Friday cheered a Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety order late Thursday directing Denver-based Cotter Corp. to begin curtailing drinking water contamination from an inactive Jefferson County uranium mine this summer.

Uranium processing bill makes it out of Senate, heads back to House

The state Senate Wednesday passed a tough new uranium processing bill that will require companies to clean up past toxic pollution before being allowed to expand operations.

House Bill 1348 (pdf), the Uranium Processing Accountability Act, met little resistance in…

Cañon City activist chooses legislation over litigation in battle with uranium mill

Sharyn Cunningham and her family bought five acres in Cañon City’s Lincoln Park neighborhood in 1994, and for eight years they used a drinking water well contaminated by the nearby Cotter uranium mill.

Uranium surge prompts Colorado lawmakers to call for stiff cleanup regulations

A coalition of conservation groups warily eyeing a possible resurgence of Colorado uranium mining in the wake of a national push for more nuclear energy rallied support for a bipartisan uranium cleanup bill at the Capitol Thursday.

Cañon City uranium contamination looms over Montrose mill battle

MONTROSE — Many residents of Montrose County and surrounding counties in Southwest Colorado, have stood in opposition to the proposed Piñon Ridge uranium mill. “Not in my back yard,” they say. Cañon City residents support the opposition. They didn’t take that stand years ago and have suffered debilitating health effects associated with the metal the Navajo Indians call “yellow death.”

Proposed uranium mill deeply divides southwestern Colorado communities

MONTROSE — Montrose County commissioners delayed a decision on a controversial uranium mill proposal Wednesday after nearly six hours of public testimony that underscored deep divisions between longtime mining families and residents of neighboring Telluride and San Miguel County.

Afternoon News Nuggets: 17 July 2009

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OUTTA THE POOL: The major Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at Swift & Co. in Greeley four years ago now seems like a signal event marking a turn away from a severe and ineffective approach…